IT’S a kitchen staple loved by chefs and nutritionists alike – and is even known as liquid gold.
But soaring costs mean olive oil is almost worth its weight in gold – with supermarket prices rising more than 50 per cent in the last year and the brand leader charging over £13 a bottle.
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The surge in price is driven by supply shortages in Spain due to dwindling harvests as a result of scorching summers.
But the hefty price tags are putting off UK consumers, with market leaders Filippo Berio reporting sales are down 15 per cent.
Savvy shoppers are now turning to the cheaper blends of refined olive and virgin oils, which can cost less than half the price of premium brands.
But how do they rate in terms of aroma, flavour and value?
Sun man James Liveris has put the supermarket own brands to the test, rating them out of five – with surprising results.
Waitrose Essential 1L, £7.50
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First impressions are good, the liquid is light in colour with a blend of green and there is no sediment settling at the bottom of the bottle.
After popping open the cap, there is little scent, which makes me believe this has been heavily refined in a factory.
But the texture is silky smooth, almost buttery, with a woody taste.
Waitrose’s olive oil would be fine for a pasta sauce recipe but not much else.
Marks and Spencer 1L, £7.50
★★★★☆
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This is marketed as an everyday all-rounder, ideal for roasting and cooking – but I don’t think that does it justice.
This is so fragrant and tasty, I wouldn’t be surprised if Greek Gods bathed in something similar.
Light in texture and piquant in flavour, you could drizzle it over any meal for an added oomph.
But it is one of the pricier options so loses a point for value.
Aldi – Solesta 1L, £5.49
★★★★☆
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Just because Aldi’s olive oil goes for less than half the price of the ‘premium brands’ it does not mean it lacks in flavour.
A bottle of Solesta certainly packs a punch and I would confidently douse my roast vegetables with this elixir.
It has a subtle aroma and remnants of olive groves can be tasted.
Consistency wise, it is pretty heavy duty, so I’d keep this handy in the pantry for Sunday roasts.
COOP 1L, £8.40
★★☆☆☆
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It is quite hard to tell why this comes at a premium price.
With a going rate of £8.40, you’d hope it would tick all boxes – I found quite the opposite.
The body was marred by disgusting floating sediment, it had an unwelcome odour and a less than pleasant taste.
It must be consumed within 12 months but shoppers would be better off keeping this out of the basket when visiting the Co-op.
Lidl – Primadonna 1L, £5.99
★★★★★
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This is the only olive oil that is visibly bottled and marketed in Spain.
And lavishly ladled over my salad, it has the delicious scent of authenticity.
Lidl’s bottle also has decent shelf life – outdoing the others by three months.
With a nice organic nutty taste, an appealing aroma and an affordable price, this is my clear winner.
Sainsbury’s 1L, £7.80
★★☆☆☆
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One of the more expensive bottles but I would only use Sainsbury’s olive oil for greasing a baking tray or frying onions.
It was quite gloopy and much more yellow than the others – you certainly wouldn’t put it out with bread.
However, there was a pleasant enough taste that makes up a little for the consistency.
Overall, it was pretty average and at £7.80, not great value.
Morrisons 1L, £7.15
★★★☆☆
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Despite being the inferior model to Morrisons‘ “Best” selection, there is something inviting about this bottle.
With a light green coat and a soft fragrance, this olive oil is perfect for home cooking.
It is rich in taste but not overly fatty, making it suitable for both marinades and roasting.
Although a mid-range price, it’s not a bad buy.
